Side effects of shilajit

Written by edward j. lamb | 13/05/2017

(Cochise College)

Shilajit has long been used in the traditional Indian practice of ayurvedic medicine to treat maladies including diabetes, worm infestations, jaundice and obesity. Animal studies conducted since the late 1980s have shown the compound to have some beneficial effects with few side effects, but shilajit should still be used with caution because it lacks clinical evidence for human use. Also, products containing shilajit have been found to contain harmful levels of heavy metals.

What It Is

Shilajit is a mineral-rich organic compound that seeps out from between rocks high in the mountains of northeastern India and other parts of Asia during the summer. Also known as asphalt and mineral pitch, the compound comes in shades of copper, gold, silver and black, with the black form being the one most often used in ayurvedic preparations. Much of shilajit consists of decayed plant material.

Evidence for Effectiveness

Animal studies reviewed by Ghosal and Talbert have shown that shilajit has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. The compound also appears to help treat ulcers. Other studies exploring the effectiveness of shilajit for treating bronchitis, heart failure and high blood pressure showed the compound to have no effect on those conditions.

Side Effects

Shilajit increases the production of uric acid in the body and can thus worsen gout. Other than that, doses as high as 3g per kilogram in a single day produced no adverse effects in mice, according to a study cited by Talbert.

Precautions

Talbert noted in the conclusion of his monograph that "examining the list of modern indications for shilajit, one can hardly believe that it could have such a wide and varied effect on the human body." He emphasises that no published clinical trials of shilajit have involved human subjects, so the compound's effect on people's health has not been established. Another concern is that most shilajit products are imported from India and not assessed for content or purity before being sold. This issue was highlighted in 2005, when Health Canada blocked the sale of shilajit capsules produced by Dabur India Ltd. because the capsules contained unhealthy amounts of heavy metals. In a July 20, 2005, press release, the Canadian health agency warned consumers that arsenic, lead and mercury are often mixed with herbs in ayurvedic medicines because the heavy metals are believed to have therapeutic properties.

Last, shilajit has a high concentration of iron. Taking shilajit with other supplements such as multivitamins that contain iron could lead to an overdose, whose symptoms include bloody vomit, diarrhoea, loss of consciousness, loss of skin colour and shock.